Jake Weatherald earns maiden call-up as Australia name squad for Ashes opener

The 31-year-old Weatherald has been in impressive form for his domestic Tasmania and Australia A in the last 14 months, scoring 1391 runs at 53.50 while opening the batting.

"I think it's a pretty solid record for sort of 18-24 months," Bailey said. "I don't think there's any one innings, but there's been a good consistency, I think, in the way that he approaches his batting.

"I think he's in a really clear place. We don't see any sort of shifting innings to innings from the way he goes about it.

"So that says to me that he's someone who has a clear understanding of the way they want to play and the way they feel like they'll get the best performances out of themselves.

"And by virtue of that, he just happens to score at four runs an over, and has some natural attacking strengths without sort of being cavalier with that."

Sam Konstas has been dropped after a horrid run form in Australia's last Test series in West Indies in July and fialed to impress at the start of the domestic campaign with New South Wales.

Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped in West Indies, was included and is set to be recalled into the starting XI following a prolific start to the Australian summer with Queensland.

Allrounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster have both been selected in the 15-man group with the Australia selectors leaving all options open.

"It's nice to have options," Bailey said. "Cam Green bowling is certainly one (to watch). And then I think just by virtue of the fact that there's 14 guys out of your 15-man squad that are playing Shield cricket, just get through the game and see how everyone's pulled up.

"I think it's probably as much just a physical check in. With that squad, yes, there's options in terms of how we can and may structure it up, but ... there's not a rush, and there's never a rush to name a team 16 days out before the first ball is going to be bowled."

Steve Smith will captain the team in the absence of Pat Cummins with the fast bowler pushing to be fit for the second Test.

Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon look set to be the four-man attack, supported by at least one allrounder.

Australia squad for first Ashes Test: Steven Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

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